Pryor, Cotton take different stances on Syria - how will it affect election?

JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) – Polls show that most Americans oppose
the U.S. taking any military action against the Syrian government for its
suspected use of chemical weapons.

The issue has not only split the public but lawmakers as
well, including the two men vying for the U.S. Senate seat in Arkansas next
year.

Sen. Mark Pryor, the Democratic incumbent, broke away this
past weekend from both the White House and his Republican challenger, Rep. Tom
Cotton.

On Saturday Pryor released the following statement: "I have
said, before any military action in Syria is taken, the Administration must
prove a compelling national security interest, clearly define a mission that
has a definitive end-state, and then build a true coalition of allies that
would actively participate in any action we take. Based on the information presented
to me and the evidence I have gathered, I do not believe these criteria have
been met, and I cannot support military action against Syria at this time."

Pryor's stance seems to fall in line with the majority of
Americans right now. A CNN/ORC International poll released Monday shows that 59
percent of people do not want Congress to pass a resolution authorizing a military
strike against the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Region 8 News asked a handful of voters to share their
thoughts on the proposed plan to strike Syria as well as how the U.S. Senate candidates'
different stances on the issue would affect the 2014 election.

Just about everyone polled said the same thing – the U.S.
should stay out of Syria. When asked if the issue would affect which candidate
they'd support for Senate, the response was more mixed.

"I really believe the U.S. needs to stay out of it – let them
fight their own battles," Rebecca Hicks of Jonesboro said. "We have a lot going
on here in the U.S. that really needs to be attended to, so I think the less we
involve ourselves overseas, the better."

Hicks opposes any intervention in Syria and plans to cast
her vote next year for Sen. Pryor for that very reason.

"I will vote for the one that's against [the strike] because
that's the way I feel," she said. "I just feel like we've put enough money out
on other countries, so I think we really need to keep it here in the U.S."

Doris Wade, a lifelong Jonesboro resident, is unsure whom
she'll support for Senate, but says right now she cannot get behind any
lawmaker pushing for military action.

"Let's stay home and take care of our own people," Wade
said. "Let's stay out of this. I think we're helping enough people as it is, so
let's put our support back into the United States and let that be it."

Elvis Poe, who served as an infantry soldier in Vietnam,
says in 2014 he may vote for Congressman
Cotton, who has criticized the Obama administration but still supports an air
strike.

"Put simply, our core national-security interests are at
stake," Rep. Cotton recently wrote in a statement on his Web site. "I've held
these views for years and I've long called for action in Syria. Regrettably,
President Obama's indecision and dithering has caused the situation there to
deteriorate. Moreover, I share concerns that the president won't execute a
strategically sound military campaign. Nevertheless, I believe that U.S.
inaction would still be a worse outcome for our national-security interests."

Poe says that if the U.S. does decide to intervene in Syria,
he hopes it will only be an air strike.

"I think something needs to be done, definitely," he said. "If
they can get the backing from other countries, the air strikes only – yeah, I
could go along with that, but I would not want to see a foot put on the soil."

Johnny Milum, a Coast Guard veteran, is undecided not only
about how he'll vote for Senate but also how he feels about U.S. military
action in Syria.

"The images I've seen of gas attack victims and stuff,
something needs [to be] done," Milum said. "You just need to make sure the
right thing and the right people are being held responsible for it."

It's unclear how public opinion will change or how it will
affect any lawmaker's decision on Syria.

The Senate was expected to take up the resolution again
Monday after a month-long recess.

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